Fuse cover soldering machine



Sept. 11, 1934. c. H. CORNWELL 1,972,871

FUSE COVER SOLDERING' MACHINE Filed Feb. 12. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Iwevdfir C M12311: C'ornwell Sept. 11, 1934. c, CORNWELL FUSE COVER SOLDERING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12. 195?.

jLUQTdD)": Ck'a1ZesECZrnweZZ 53 W4 Patented Sept. 11, 1934 FUSE COVER SGLDERING Charles H. Cornwell,

Highland Falls, N. Y.

Application February 12, 1932, Serial No. 592,538

Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3'10 0. G. 75'!) This invention relates to a machine for soldering to fuse covers the fuse strips for attaching the covers to projectiles.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine to secure the fuse strips to the covers in a more rapid and economical manner than can be done by hand and to secure a more effective union between the several parts.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the assembled machine;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a fuse cover with a fuse strip attached;

Fig. 3 is a partial section on line 3-3 of Fig. 4 of a portion of the member on which the covers are mounted and certain associated parts;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a vertical axial section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, of the principal parts of the device.

Fuse strips soldered to the covers by hand are seldom so placed in practice as to project a uniform distance from the cover all around, with the result that when the cover is placed'on the projectile, the bearing of the fuse strip thereon varies and may not form an air-tight joint. In addition, the consumption of solder is much higher than when mymachine is used, and production is but one-fourth to one-third as great.

The base 6 of the machine is secured to a suitably rigid bench or table 'I. On the base is a lower annular pedestal member 8 with an upstanding fiange 9 at the upper side thereof to serve as a guide and positioning means for the intermediate pedestal member 10 which also is provided with an upstanding flange 11 to position the upper pedestal member 12. Screws 13 secure members 8 and 10 to base 6, and screws 14 fix member 12 on member 10. Key 15 takes the torque of any tendency to rotation between members 10 and 12.

The fuse cap to which the strip is to be soldered is seated on a block 16, preferably of aluminum, that is interchangeable to adapt the machine for working on fuse covers of any size. Block 16 is mounted on an annular support 17 that is secured by screws 18 to a driving gear 19 in mesh with pinion 20 on rotatable drive shaft 21 and idling pinion 22 on shaft 23 that is diametrically opposite to shaft 21 and is non-rotatable, the latter pinion serving to balance the gear 19 on the side thereof opposite pinion 20. A stationary member 24 is formed with holes to receive the inner ends of shafts 21 and 23, the former shaft being retained in position by a set screw 25 that extends into slot 26 therein and the latter being kept in place by cotter pin 27. A brass shim 28, 60

of suitable thickness to align the holes in member 24 with the apertures in member 12 through which the shafts 21 and 23 pass, is interposed between member 24' and supporting means 29 extending from intermediate member 10.

An interchangeable semi-circular mounting 30 is detachably secured to member 12 by screw 31. In the side of mounting 30 adjacent block 16 are rotatably mounted a plurality of rollers 3'7, preferably of aluminum, having laterally extending flanges 32 at their upper ends. The main portions of the rollers 31 bear against fuse strips 33 to press them firmly against the fuse covers 34 while being soldered thereto and while the solder -cools and hardens, as hereinafter set forth. Springs 35 set in recesses in mounting 30 bear at one end against abutment strips 36 and assist in keeping mounting 30 properly positioned with respect to the work. The flanges 32 on the rollers 31 prevent displacement of the strips upwardly on the covers and so insure uniform positioning of the strips on the covers. Pins 38 retain the rollers 31 in the mounting 30.

After the fuse strip is soldered to the cover, the cover is too hot to touch with the hands. The covers are removed from block 16 by outward movement of head 39 on plunger 40, which slides in guide sleeve 41 that passes axially through member 24 and gear 19, and guide 42 through base 6. Plunger is moved upwardly by footpedal 43 and is retracted by spring 44 that is compressed by the upward movement of the plunger. An internally threaded connection 45 is provided to afford adjustment of the length of plunger 40 and also to permit the ready changing of plungers for covers of different sizes when' necessary.

The covers 34 are held in position on block 16 by the pressure of spring 46 exerted against a fitting 47 that has a conical depression in its lower end and is seated on the upper ends of the covers while the strips are being afllxed thereto. Fitting 47 is carried on a shank 48 that slides in an aperture through guide bracket 49 rotatably mounted on standard 50 and held in position thereon by a lower stop 51 and nut 52. Fitting 4'7 is lifted against the pressure of spring 46 when placing the fitting on a cover or removing it therefrom by means of lever 53 mounted on fulcrum standard 54 and connected to shank 48 by link 55.

' Heat is applied to the strips by an electrically heated soldering iron 56 adjustably mounted on a supporting member 57 attached to member 12. When iron 56 is not in use it may be rested on a small table attachable to the projecting end of shaft 23.

The operation of the device is as follows: Y

The lower edge of the fuse cover'is dipped in cut muriatic acid to a depth of about one-fourth inch, and the fuse strip is immersed in the same liquid. The lower edge of the cover'is then dipped to a depth of about one-fourth inch in molten solder, the strip is immersed therein and the excess solder wiped off, which tins the strip and a narrow band on the edge of the cover.

The cover is then placed on block 16 andthe fitting 47 set on the upper end thereof. Pulley 58 is driven by a suitable source of power to which it is connected, which drives block 16 through pinion 20 and gear 19. The strip is then fed into the space between rollers 37.and the cover, which presses the strip firmly into contact with the cover. The rate of rotation is governed by the effectiveness of the iron 56 to act on the solder. Iron 56 is held against the strip as it revolves, and the solder on the strip and the cover is fused and the strip is sweated to the cover. Fitting 47 is removed from the cover and pressure is applied .to foot-lever whereby plunger 40 is moved upwardly and head 39 forces the cover off the block 16. This results in a rapid, uniform bonding of the strip to the cover. A block 16 of size adapted to receive any size of fuse cover may beused, the rollers 37 being changed to correspond, and if necessary the plunger 40 may be changed to obtain a suitable length for operating on any size of fuse cover.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my in? vention, and that various changes in the proportion, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. A

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon.

I claim: I

1. In a device of the class described, a pedestal structure, a rotatable driving shaft extending through one side of said structure, a non-rotatable shaft extending through theopposite side thereof, a fixed member having holes to receive the ends of both shafts, supporting means for said member, a driving pinion on said rotatable shaft within said structure, an idling pinion rotatably mounted on said non-rotatable shaft within said structure, a rotatable gear meshed with both said pinions, a supporting member secured on said gear, a work-holding block detachably mounted on said supporting member exteriorly of said structure, a swingably mounted bracket, a shank slidable through said bracket,

a fitting adapted to bear against work on said block carried by said shank, a spring between said fitting and said bracket, a pivotally mounted lever connected to \said shank to move said fitting against said spring, 'a plunger extending through said gear, said supporting member and said block,

guide sleeves for said plunger, means operable to project said plunger, resilient means to retract 'said plunger, a semi-circular mounting on the upper side of said pedestal structure, rollers carried by said mounting to bear against work on said block, resilient means to aid in positioning said mounting, a supporting element fixed to a side of said structure, and a soldering iron adjustably carried by said element to be applied to work on said block.

2. In a device of the class described, a pedestal structure, a rotatable driving shaft and a nonrotatable shaft mounted in said structure, a driving pinion on said rotatable shaft, an idling pinion rotatably mounted on said non-rotatable shaft, a rotatable gear meshed with both said pinions, a supporting member secured to said gear, a workholding block detachably mounted on said member, means to hold work firmly upon said block, a plunger mounted to remove work from said block, means to actuate said plunger, a mounting on the upper side of said structure, rollers in said mounting to bear against work on said block, resilient means to aid in positioning said mounting, a supporting element fixed to a side of 'said structure, and a soldering iron adjustably mounted on said element to be applied to work on said block.

3. In a device of the class described, a pedestal 100 structure, a rotatable driving shaft and a nonrotatable shaft mounted in said structure, a driv-' ing pinion on said rotatable shaft, an idling pinion rotatably mounted on said non-rotatable shaft, a rotatable gear meshed with both said 105 pinions, a supporting member secured to said gear, a work-holding block detachably mounted on said member, means to hold work firmly upon said block, a plunger mounted to remove work from said block, means to actuate said plunger, a 110 mounting on the upper side of said structure, rollers in said mounting to bear against work on said block, resilient means to aid in positioning said mounting, and means to apply heat to work on said block.

4. In a device of the class described, a pedestal structure, a rotatable driving shaft and a nonrotatable shaft mountedin said structure, a driving pinion on said rotatable shaft, an idling pinion rotatably mounted on said non-rotatable 120 shaft, a rotatable gear meshed with both said pinions, a supporting member secured to said gear, a work-holding block detachably mounted on said member, means to hold work firmly upon said block, a plunger mounted to remove work from said block, means to actuate said plunger, means to press together parts carried by said block to be worked upon, a supporting element fixed to one side of said structure, and a soldering iron adjustably mounted on said element to be applied to work on said block.

. 5. In a device of the class described, a pedestal structure, a rotatable driving shaft and a nonrotatable shaft mounted in said structure, a drivin'g pinion on said rotatable shaft, an idling pinion rotatably mounted on said non-rotatable shaft, a rotatable gear meshed with both said pinions, a supporting member secured to said gear, a work-holding block detachably mounted on said member, means to hold work firmly upon I on said standard, a fulcrum bracket mounted on the aforesaid bracket, a lever mounted on said fulcrum bracket, a link connected to one end of said lever, a shank slidably mounted in the first mentioned bracket and connected at one end to said link, a fitting at the other end of said shank having a recess to receive a part of the work on said block, a spring between said fitting and said first mentioned bracket, means operable to remove work from said block, means to press together parts of the work on said block, and means to apply heat to work on said block.

7. In a device of the class described, a pedestal structure, a rotatable work-holding block carried thereby, mechanism to rotate said block, a standard extending upwardly from said structure, a laterally extending bracket rotatably mounted on said standard, a fulcrum bracket mounted on the aforesaid bracket, a lever mounted on said fulcrum bracket, a link connected to one end of said lever, a shank slidably mounted in the first mentioned bracket and connected at one end to said link, a fitting at the other end of said shank having a recess to receive a part of the work onsaid block, a spring between said fitting and said first mentioned bracket, and means to apply heat to work on said block.

8. In a device of the class described, a pedestal structure, a rotatable work-holding block carried thereby, mechanism to rotate said block, means to hold work firmly on said block, closely spaced rollers adjacent substantially one-half the circumference of the block to press a strip against the side of the work on said block and hold said strip thereagainst during the time required for molten solder to cool, and means to apply heat to said strip.

9. In a device of the class described, a pedestal structure, a rotatable work-holding block carried thereby, mechanism to rotate said block, means to hold together and position with respect to each other parts of the work on said block, means operable against the inside of said work to remove said work from said block, and means to apply heat to work on said block.

10. In a device of the class described, a pedestal structure, a rotatable work-holding block carried thereby, mechanism to rotate said block, means to press a strip against the side of a piece of work on said block and position said strip with respect to said work and hold said strip thereagainst during the time required for molten solder to cool, and means to apply heat to work on said block.

CHARLES H. CORNWELL. 

